josephdunn-67245 Reviews

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)

Satisfied. Just about

[6/10 · 24 May 2024]

I reckon overall the entire saga is a 7 at best. The story is reasonable enough. The cast is well drilled. It should have been kept to 3 movies. That's a piss take. Liked the way it panned out. Enjoyed the multi faceted ending. It's just not epic enough to deserve more than a 7. The final movie is an action extravaganza. But you get about 30 minutes of meaningful and thought provoking storyline across parts 1 and 2. Not enough. In comparison to the likes of Lord of the rings it's not even close. The basis for a 7 comes from the brutality. The honestly of war and the desire not to make everything turn out perfect. I liked that it tried to portray the darkness of human nature. Would I watch again. Probably not. The entire saga is probably a 6.75 if I'm being generous. The last 2 movies lose marks for being stretched further than Dolly Partons bra strap. Not terrible. At least it's not the Twighlight Saga.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)

No attempt to hide the padding out

[6/10 · 24 May 2024]

First of all it's a continuation of a decent saga which I have enjoyed more than I thought I would. The 3rd installment is a little darker and that is not unwelcome. I won't waste time commenting on the fact that it has been stretched thin to make it into 2 movies. Enough reviews have rightly pointed that out. The story is gritty and uncomfortable and we see more of the harsh reality of war against an unforgiving oppressor which is done well. The main cast are again capable. With the character of Peeta developing nicely. I found Julianne Moore to be pretty wooden and uninspiring. In fact the whole new society of District 13 had shades of the 3rd Matrix film for me. A little over egged and an extra facet of the story that was not really essential to the plot. Again this may be to thin it out a bit more. Hoping the last installment brings it back up. Drop to a 6 for this one.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

A competent continuation

[7/10 · 24 May 2024]

So I gave the first movie a 7. But it was more like a 6.5/7. Catching Fire was again a decent watch and I thought it looked and felt much grander than the first movie. The continuation of the story was enjoyable and I enjoyed seeing the seeds of unrest begin to boil over within the districts. Interestingly I drew comparisons with various reality TV shows in my review of the first movie. The choice of tributes in Catching fire put me in mind of how TV companies have a celebrity version of shows to boost the ratings. The story expands a little and the ending although was inevitable sets the saga up for hopefully a strong ending. 7 again. Although moving closer to 7.5.

The Hunger Games (2012)

Enjoyed second time around

[7/10 · 24 May 2024]

Having never read the books. I can't draw comparisons. Overall it was a decent watch. It has elements of 1984. Lord of the Flies. The Running man. As well as the TV programme Lost. Additionally the whole reality TV. X Factor/Big brother scene is addressed throughout. The acting is passable and the characters although a bit too teenage and twighlighty are not too overbearingly cheesy. I was put off first time around as I find Lawrence to be hard to watch. But as the whole series are on prime. I tried to see past my initial doubts and quite enjoyed it. The films look great. The dystopian premise is well done. If a little flimsy in terms of background detail. I was keen to watch the 2nd movie as There was enough appeal in the characters and the storyline to keep my interest. Probably 6.5. But just shades a 7.

Archenemy (2020)

Wasn't sure what I was watching.

[4/10 · 21 May 2024]

It was somewhere in between a terrible superhero movie and a sad human behaviour story. Max Fist although obviously put through the ringer was a bit of a waste of space. He was hard to like and I found his lack of self respect to be quite distracting from what could have been a pretty interesting character. Additionally the character of Indigo was also frustrating. She was so unashamedly wrong in everything she did or said but yet we are supposed to get on board with her big sister act. Hamster was uncomplicated but not off putting and the rest of the supporting cast done a reasonable job. I liked the way the movie looked and it proved you can pull off a half decent attempt on a low budget. Unfortunately it was mediocre at best and wouldn't be worthy of a second viewing.

Die Hart (2023)

Silly , a little ridiculous. But what are you expecting?

[6/10 · 21 May 2024]

I found Die Hart to be reasonably funny. Not taking itself seriously and overall a decent light action comedy. I like the premise of the secret shooting and thought it worked well. It is by no means a great movie. But it's not supposed to be Oscar material. I thought Hart was good. Travolta was bordering on ridiculous , but just about pulls it off. There was a few funny scenes and twinned with the mysterious plot line was enough to keep my attention for the duration. Not by any means a bad movie. Light hearted and silly. So if that was the goal, it is a success. I see there is sequel on the horizon. I will tune in based on the original.

The Vault (2021)

Well done. But pretty Generic

[6/10 · 21 May 2024]

Enjoyable and easy to watch. With a decent cast. Very much in the vein of many which have came before. So nothing terribly new or thought provoking. Gave me Italian Job vibes with the Football as it's backdrop and had elements of Mission impossible or Oceans Eleven. It was quite obvious how the plot was going to play out and I wasn't surprised when specific characters revealed themselves to be what I had thought. It felt a little run of the mill and the characters could have been made up of a select few from other similar movies as their personalities and motivations were almost identical to previous incarnations in similar movies. By no means a bad movie. It was just a little too seen it all before.

Air (I) (2023)

A simple, yet fresh and enjoyable story

[7/10 · 28 April 2024]

It amazing to think that such an enormous empire was built on such shaky beginnings. Air tells the story of how Sonny Varcano convinces his colleagues to take a punt on an unknown and risky venture which goes on to deliver for Nike on un unprecedented scale. The movie has a great 80's soundtrack and has a mixed cast of some individuals who you wouldn't normally see in a true story. Chris Tucker and Wayans play 2 decent parts and Affleck is hilarious in some of his 80's costumes. Jason Bateman is also great. Damon steals the show as the overweight yet incredibly shrewd businessman Varcano. The story is interesting while not being over egged and had my attention for the full movie. A solid 7.5.

Expend4bles (2023)

A Tiresome Snoozefest. Lacking the Expendables Appeal

[2/10 · 27 April 2024]

A lack lustre storyline which given how basic the plot needs to be is quite the feat. As soon as I seen Megan Fox on the cast list I knew it was going to be terrible. Jason Statham , who lets be honest isn't really in the high echelons of acting prowess normally is able to make relatively simple action movies enjoyable as he is likeable and a bit rough round the edges. E4 relies on him heavily to drag you through a terrible movie. Iko Uwais as the bad guy sums up the whole movie. A mediocre actor who was in the god awful Wu Assassins joins a number of other b listers in delivering a stupid plot with terrible digital work and badly done over the top stunt sequences. Megan Fox's presence is purely to bring a bit of plastic eye candy and nothing more. Tony Jaa is undoubtedly a decent martial artist. But again he couldn't act his way out a paper bag. And 50 cents contribution is as exciting as when you say " Oh look its 50 cent" For the rest of the team. There is no heart and no nostalgia for them like we got in previous movies. Think it may be the End of the saga. 3.

Fallout (2024– )

Made by a true fan. Excellent

[9/10 · 16 April 2024]

First if all it looks absolutely perfect. It's so accurate to the games and the characters are as surreal as the games. The storyline although not in line with any of the game plots is brilliantly conceived and suits the fallout universe. I can't wait for the next season to see what it brings. The thing I love about the series is the way that they utilise the choices made by each of the characters. Just like in the game there are decisions made that go against the obvious storyline and take the characters in an unusual but still viable direction. The Ghoul played by Walton Goggins is a great addition. And his back story has been really good. Hoping we find out more as the story progressess. Overall. Its up there with the best Game based conversions. But on its own stands up as a modern and fresh series that delivers on multiple fronts. Funny. Full of suspense. Multi faceted plot lines. Loved it.

War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

More superb action and sci fi storytelling

[8/10 · 11 April 2024]

A non stop excellent addition to the series. The 9th film of the POTA universe brings with it fantastic visuals. Depth in the story and ensures the franchise is alive and kicking. Special Mention to Woody Harrelson who brings us a complex and interesting foe for ceaser to pit his wits against. The movie is not only harrowing in its depiction of the brutality of war in a survival setting. It is also uplifting in its message regards humanity. And it is shown both through at least 1 character from each species of ape and through the human character played by Freya Allen as Nova. Without spoiling the end. I was satisfied if a little dissappinted that this part of the story had run its course. Am hoping that Kingdom sparks new life and we see a few more movies which show a more evolved ape society. Keep them coming. Excellent entertainment.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

A brilliant continuation of the POTA rebirth

[8/10 · 10 April 2024]

The 2nd in the most recent reboot and the 8th movie overall is action packed and backed up with a great storyline. By this point the CGI is now just expected, so the quality of the storytelling becomes far more important to make the movie stand up. It doesn't dissapoint. With far more in common with the original series. We see internal power struggles and begin to see how the similarities of both races are undeniable. Hate, fear and survival are now inherent in both species. The cityscape and civilisations are more attuned to the post apocalyptic essence of the original and this only makes for a genuine and captivating watch. The movie looks amazing and the characters are believable, which helps to immerse you into what is a pretty fantastical premise. A great watch.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

A terrific return to form. Best since the original

[8/10 · 10 April 2024]

A reintroduction to a well loved series that has seen a few terrible entries. No more so than the Burton debacle. Rise is an extraordinary piece of modern cinema. Utilising CGI in a way that doesn't depend on the technology to be the main attraction. Superb retelling of the inception of the saga with an excellent plot and is thoroughly enjoyable. Serkis is a joy as Ceasar and provides a character which is undoubtedly likeable. You are driven to root for the new order as they strive to escape their human overlords and embark on their free existence. The action scenes are spectacular with the showdown on the Bridge being a particular highlight. Given the car crash that the 2000 movie was. I wasn't expecting much. But Rise takes dead franchise and completely revitalises it. A brilliant movie.

Planet of the Apes (2001)

So much freedom to do something amazing with a reimagining and utterly fails

[3/10 · 9 April 2024]

It's just too blockbuster. It's supposed to be about the substance of a thought provoking story. It was more like watching Stargate than POTA. Cheesy. Over egged at every turn and nothing like the classic original. I know they created some car crashes in the original 4 sequels but it was the early 70's. This had all the resources of the 21st century, yet it concentrated on the set design more than making the story any good. Humans should have been mute. Bar Leo. I'd have preferred an atmospheric dystopia with very little dialogue over the hammed up, obvious man vs beast rubbish we are exposed too. Giamatti's character was like a star wars droid merchant. Supposed to be funny. But was out of place and sort of ridiculed the lore of the saga by just existing. Also the not so subtle sexual attraction between Bonham Carter and Whalberg was just plain weird. These elements twinned with a plethora of awful acting from a normally decent group make for a pretty dire affair. Also the much maligned ending just caps it off. It just makes no sense no matter what timeline your in. A sad and unfortunate blot on the cinematic landscape. At least it warned future producers not to let Burton crap all over any other sacred Sci fi. 3 is the most I can muster. Worst Movie in the entire catalogue.

Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)

A tired end to a drawn out series

[5/10 · 9 April 2024]

It's not as bad as beneath and in my opinion comes in second to last in the series. The story just isn't as good and even though it is called Battle. It's just a big battle for the most part which isn't what you want from a POTA movie. The story is weak and the characters are just not as captivating. I found the human society to be pretty pathetic and the leader was just a fat mess of a guy that nobody in their right mind would elect to be the leader of the last remnants of the human race. Conquest was also quite light on plot. But finished well and that can't be said about Battle. It just sort of fizzles out. Definitely time to call it a day. And we can all look forward to The Mark Whalberg disaster. 5 max.

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)

Hints of Orwell, lashings of social commentary. Not in the same league as the original.

[6/10 · 8 April 2024]

Perhaps for me the biggest disappointment is the vast majority of the acting. As it includes a much larger human cast of characters. They bring with them limited acting prowess, with only a couple achieving pass marks. The story is simple and a real sordid reflection of humanity. There is a real orwellian feel as media coverage is manipulated and the apes are conditioned into servitude by the recorded voices demanding compliance. The uniforms are almost nazi like in style which is intentional. Also the comparisons which are drawn with the civil rights movement are obvious and must have been extremely close to the bone at the time of release. Overall its watchable and relatively thought provoking but not in the same league as the classic first movie. 6 is fair.

Justified (2010–2015)

A brilliant twist on the western genre that doesn't dissapoint.

[8/10 · 7 April 2024]

Timothy Olyphant borders of typecastjng himself as the quintessential cowboy. But if your gonna do 1 thing then do it right. Believable. Likeable and continually cool. The plot lines are superb and the environment is delightfully rustic. The supporting cast bring an eclectic mix of superb characters. With The Crowders and Bennets bringing a plethora of likeable scumbags. Ava's growth as a character is enjoyable and others such as Wynn, Dickie, Dewey and Ellen May amongst others all bring something unique. But for me the character of Boyd Crowder is the best thing about the show. He is menacing, and unavoidably common. But he is oozing intelligence, guile and an almost psychotic devotion to Ava. Often hilarious and regularly brutal. Justified was a joy from start to finish. Loved it.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

Does the bustin universe proud.

[7/10 · 29 March 2024]

Ghostbusters is a simple formula. It has to be funny. It has to be a bit off the wall. It should exist in a fantastical universe where its o.k for the unbelievable to be acceptable. People who watch this movie and take its contents too seriously require a swift boot in the chuckies. It should be slightly scary and it should have a clever supernatural plot line. All the good GB movies have had these elements and Frozen Empire does the formula well. The reason the 3rd movie failed was because it had no connection with the original cast. The inclusion of Aykroyd, Murray and the rest of the old school members only makes it all the more enjoyable. The newer busters are also fun and add to the world. The Firemaster character is really great and had me laughing a few times. The plot is well thought out and it never gets too complex. One thing I loved is that although the movie was a smorgasbord of ethnicities there was nothing racial about any if the storylines. It was just a given thing the people were people and they co existed without a need to be overly woke and focus on a modern identity or sensibility. A real breath of fresh air as so many releases are trying to hard to address the 2020's need to appear inclusive thay it has ruined certain presentations. A solid 7.5. Fun, funny and genuinely enjoyable.

Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)

A Return to form. Although A vastly different style

[7/10 · 27 March 2024]

Beneath was a little disappointing and the 3rd in the saga did fill me with a little trepidation that it would follow suit and offer a sub standard take on the original. What we get instead is an altogether different style of movie, due to the locale. We see a lot of " Boot on the other foot " sub stories where we can draw comparisons with how the Apes treat Taylor and Brent vs how the Humans treat Zira and Cornelious which gives an interesting premise. Ricardo Montalban is excellently eccentric and Roddy MacDowell is a welcome return as Cornelius. Hasslien as a character is enjoyably menacing while being reflective of his ape counterparts in the first 2 movies. Overall an enjoyable return to the POTA universe.

Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)

Just a continuation.

[5/10 · 26 March 2024]

It would be hard to follow such an iconic original movie with a solid follow up. There is very few sagas that manage to achieve equal or more success with the sequel. BTPOTA is unfortunately nowhere near its predecessor. If movies had additional downloadable content like modern computer games this would fit into that category. Feels like an update or an add on as oppossed to a stand alone movie and this isn't just reflected in the length which is almost a half hour less. But the first half of the movie is a rehash of the original, even starting with a 10 minute section of the first movie. The second part becomes more original with the story line but unfortunately it's a bit late by that point. Reeks a little of a cash grab. Not terrible but a little lazy all round. 5 at a push.

Planet of the Apes (1968)

An excellent and unique movie.

[8/10 · 26 March 2024]

The book is great and the original movie goes a long way to doing it justice. The sets are great to look at and even for such primitive technology from the late 60's being used. It is done with a lots of care to try and create a realistic world. Heston's character can be a little annoying, but that's more about him than the movie itself. His over dramatic acting is a little hard to swallow. Roddy MacDowell and the actress who played Zira are brilliant and although the costumes are pretty basic. I think they make the most of them and they look genuinely like another species. The story is wonderful Sci fi and the ending is so iconic that even though I've seen it 100 times. I still love it. Bar Hestons pinnacle of overacting in the final scene. It's dated now. But a true icon of cinema. 8 out of ten.

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Nothing that merits a rewatch. Too much action and not enough substance

[6/10 · 18 March 2024]

Again. Not good enough to justify more than 6.5. It was more frantic running about and more corruption and unfortunately the ending never provided anything particularly note worthy either. No big reveal or significant new information. There was a minor reveal. But it wasn't exactly anything that was fundamental to the "story". Overall the whole series was the same stuff done over and over again. I do struggle to see the attraction of intense music and a constant hunt for a fugitive. It just gets boring for me. Not by any means a bad movie. Just not a particularly thought provoking or cerebral series. Assassin guy evades capture for 8 hours. That's the gist of it. If that's your bag, then it will tick the box for you. I just don't find constant regurgitation of super spy amnesia guy worthy of 3 films worth of attention span A big twist might have made it better. 6.5 max. Extra Long Action. Extra Shaky Camera work. Disappointing ending.

Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991)

A Mostly Triumphant Sequel.

[7/10 · 16 March 2024]

Funny and ridiculous as ever. The grim reaper is an excellent addition to the world of Bill and Ted and the evil robots have provided me with one of the best catchphrases of all time which I have used for decades since "Ive got a full on Robot Chubby" has been utilised on many occasions to express my satisfaction in life. A silly yet enjoyable story provides many laughs and the ending with the band finally coming good and actually being able to play lives long in the memory. Great tune also. Lacks a bit of depth from the original as the historical characters bring so much in the first movie and I also felt like the ending comes along a little too abruptly and seems a bit rushed. Still a lot of fun and deserved of a 7.

The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

More Frantic Surviving from Matt Damon

[6/10 · 16 March 2024]

Camera work is a little nausea inducing. More of the same running and hiding. Not a bad movie, but like the first I found it to be a bit too much action and thin on content. We get he has amnesia. We get he is hard as nails. We get the company are corrupt and he just wants to be left alone. After a while of the same stuff I get a little bored. Everyone kill Bourne so we can hide our indiscretions is pretty much the premise and even though the fight scenes and car chases are impressive, I would like less of the action, running,hiding, spying etc and a lot more depth in the back story. Hopefully the third movie will provide more of this which will make the whole saga worthwhile. So far Identity and Supremacy have left me a little disappointed and 6.5 is the most I can offer.

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

A Most Triumphantly Unique Movie

[8/10 · 13 March 2024]

No words can overstate just how much I love Bill and Ted. Stupid, massively 80's but unique and heartwarming. Bill and Ted themselves are loveable fools and their stupidity is what defines them. Its the other characters in the Movie that make it for me. Socrates and Genghis Khan are hilarious and Napoleon is so obnoxious that you cant help but love and hate him at the same time. The mall scene is by far my favourite bit of the movie as we are treated to the groups OTT interactions with modern San Dimas. The soundtrack is really great too and makes the most of the rock and roll theme throughout the movie. A superbly fun and unmatched in originality since its release. Brilliant.